Middleware Framework for Disconnection Tolerant Mobile Application Services

Communication Networks and Services Research (CNSR)

This research is supported and funded through CNSR by Bell / Aliant and ACOA by an AIF research contract.

Sangwhan Cha, Weichang Du,.Bernd J. Kurz

Introduction Middleware Framework Design

Research Problem

Middleware Architecture Overview

Solution

Real-World Applications

Mobile services are prone to failures caused by the disruption of an active wireless access network connection due to the user’s movement to other networks or signal blocking (shadowing). Thus, proper mechanisms for disconnection tolerant mobile application services are needed. we propose a middleware framework that transparently performs required functionality for users in order to provide continuous mobile services in case of network disruption. Such middleware framework provides an effective disconnection tolerant mobile application service.

BS_1BS_2

User’s path

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Starting point for getting a signal strength from

BS_1

Starting point for getting a signal strength from

BS_2

Ending point for getting a signal strength from

BS_1

Ending point for getting a signal strength from

BS_2

BS : Base Station

(a) (b) (c) (d)

SignalStrength

User’s movement

Consider disconnection tolerant

mobile application services

Prepare losing the connection Recover network connection,

Resume mobile application service

Figures shows a network disruption between base station 1 and base station 2 when a mobile device moves from point (a) to point (d). Thus, mobile multimedia application services cannot be provided properly during network disconnection from point (b) to point (c).

Appropriate mechanisms are needed for preparing a persistent and resumable mobile service before the current wireless access network is lost, making sure that a mobile application continues to run on the mobile device, until reconnection occurs through another detected wireless network, and recovering the execution of the mobile service after the wireless access network reconnection.

Application

Vendor Platform

Hardware Resource

SM

Service

Vendor Platform

Hardware Resource

Data

Mobile Device Mobile Intelligent Server Sever

Middlew

are

CH

CM RM

Service

Vendor Platform

Hardware Resource

SM CH

CM RM

SM : Service ManagerCH : Context HandlerCM : Connection ManagerRM : Resource Manager

Mobile Device

Obtain the service type

Play the mobile service

:SM

Monitor the SS

Detect the SS weaker

:CM

:CM

Preparing the connection lost

Reserve more data :RM

Save service state :SM

Detect other networks :CM

Keeping the mobile service run

Analyze context :CH

Readjust mobile service :SM

Recovering the network connection

Restore service state :SM

Resume mobile service :SM

--Refer the policy

Mobile Intelligent Server

Server

Provide mobile services

Communication

Control service

Control connection

Control context

Control resource

:SM

:CM

:CH

:RM

SM : Service ManagerCM : Connection ManagerRM : Resource ManagerCH : Context Handler

Current Existing Applications

• Stored multimedia: Mobile VOD, Mobile IPTV

• Real time Multimedia: Mobile Video Call: Mobile Conference: Mobile streaming multimedia (Watch child care, Watch house,…etc.)

• Others: Mobile Game, : VR (Virtual Reality) application: Etc.

Future Applications

• Real time Multimedia: Mobile Cloud computing

• Virtual Reality (VR): Mobile Training: Mobile Education: Mobile Medical Application: Mobile E-Commerce: Mobile Entertainment: Mobile Manufacturing

Access network(Wireless)

Core network(Wired)

Global IP network(Wired)

Application

Middleware

Mobile device

Services

Middleware

Mobile Intelligent server Servers

Services

Services

Services

Server-3

Server-2

Server-1

R S R S

Receiving Buffer Sending BufferReceive BufferSend Buffer

MIS is located in the fixed network and has reliable connections to the application server.

When the disruption in the access network occurs, the middleware on the mobile

device will try to make the mobile application run as long as possible with limited resources until reconnection,

For more information, Refer to the paper : S. Cha, W. Du, and B. Kurz, “Middleware framework for disconnection tolerant mobile application services” in proceedings of the 10th communication networks and services research conference (CNSR 2010), Montreal, May, 2010.